Defendants allegedly possessed three kilos of fentanyl at time of arrest; additional kilo found during search

BOSTON, Ms. – A Providence man and a Dominican national have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on charges of fentanyl conspiracy.

Dario Bier Romero, 27, of Providence, R.I., and Luis Cirino, 35, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Romero and Cirino were arrested in June and charged by criminal complaint; both have been in custody since their arrests.

On June 21, 2018, approximately three kilograms of fentanyl were seized from Romero and Cirino during an investigation. During the execution of a search warrant at Romero’s residence in Providence, investigators seized an additional kilogram of fentanyl and drug packaging paraphernalia.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $10 million. Cirino will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Division, made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and Woburn and Providence (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.